Pranab’s ‘Development Mantra’

In the midst of the ensuing debate over development vis-à-vis environment protection that runs from Niyamgiri to New Delhi, the recent statement of the Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is of utmost importance: ‘ The answer does not lie in stopping mining activities, rather in providing adequate compensation to the displaced and ensuring that they become beneficiaries of economic development.’
Such a statement from an astute statesman and coming within a month of the Environment ministry’s rejection of earlier clearance to Vedanta’s Bauxite Mining Project and halting land acquisition process for Posco’s Steel Project in Orissa, is indicative of the Centre’s shift from its earlier stand in the matter.
The definition of development rests on a balance approach to both environment & development. The 50 year old Rourkela Steel Plant, the pride of Orissa, is a case in point. Since then many industrial projects have been shelved as a result of the never ending debate between environment & development. While both the Posco & Vedanta projects have been ensnared in this battle, the Mittal project is yet to take off. This is a huge set back in the economic growth of the state.
On the other hand, the allegations of the Saxena Committee report appear to have loopholes. The Central Mining Planning & Designing Institute has opined that reforestation after the bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills will result in creating a green belt as in the case of Nalco.
The committee also claims that denying the rights of the tribal people will encourage Maoism. The question is, in the name of environment should the Adivasis be deprived of development and be allowed to continue making a living from forests. The environment does not belong to Adivasis alone, but to humanity.
Keeping this in mind and rising above petty ideological differences, planning should ensure progress and equitable development of the country as a whole.

Vedanta provides medical aid in diarrhea hit villages in Rayagada

Vedanta Aluminium Limited extended its support to the district administration of Rayagada to fight the outbreak of Diarrhoea in Bissam cuttack, Kalayansinghpur and Kashipur block of the district. The company has been providing supplementary and complementary medical support to the local community of these three blocks in collaboration with the Govt. Health Department. Till date, it has provided health service with medical & paramedical care, medicine and ORS facility to 350 patients in the Bissamcuttack and Kalayansinghpur blocks, through its mobile health unit and Special Health Camps.

The company started its mobile health service in Bissamcuttack block on September 03, 2010 and in Kalyanginghpur block from 9th September onwards. The CSR Team of the company has taken up a sanitation drive in the villages by sprinkling bleaching Powder, demonstration of clean hand practices and applying disinfectants to other water bodies and also home application of halogen tablets. More than 100 Plastic Mats have been provided to three blocks for the patients who are admitted in the temporary treatment centers.

Besides, for facilitating the medical, paramedical staff and other volunteers to continue their services in inaccessible villages, drinking water (water bottle and water pouches) and biscuits have been provided for the medical staff as well as the patients and attendants who are at the temporary treatment centers in three blocks.

The company is also taking proactive step in raising awareness among the community. It has put awareness banner in PHC and CHC of three blocks to create awareness on diarrhea besides circulating leaflets / brochures. The villages covered under the special drive are Gadaba, Hikinee, Dhamanpanga, Lakhpai, Kisingi, Upper Anchalbadi, Tala Anchalbadi, Pendamaska.

In order to prevent spread of diarrhea in the Refinery periphery villages, the company has also started an intensive drive on awareness building to control diarrhea through door to door campaign by its employees since 13thSept’10. Two Mobile Health Unit services with medical, paramedical care and medicine are on duty 24X7. For all referral cases two Ambulances services available on the site. Bleaching powder has being sprinkled in the drains, surrounding and near drinking water sources of the villages with the help of community and employees of the Vedanta Refinery. Community sensitization is going on by the VAL employee through door to door visit. CSR Head of the Company Mr. Prashant Hota and his team led by Ms Alka Minj and Dr Akshya Sahoo are in close coordination with the the Govt Medical Officers from Lanjigarh , Biswanathpur , Kasipur and Kalyansinghpur and with the Local leaders and the Village based special committees .

Simultaneous mitigation and preventive drive have been initiated in Dongria and Kutia Kandh predominant villages Phuldumer, Palberi, Balbhadrapur and Trlochanpur. Soap pieces have been provided to the tribal families while demonstrating the clean hand drives. Application of water treatment agents like sand, alum and chlorine in the Water distribution points, bleaching powder in the drains and garbage sources and halogen tablets in the drinking water containers were also demonstrated in the Tribal households in the above villages. Medical Outlets of the Company in Balbhdrapur, Trilocahnpur and Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar are fully equipped to provide outdoor treatment / rehydration facilities for Diarrheoa and malaria patients. Company CSR team is in high alert for the tribal villages for providing ambulances in odd hour for transporting the patients from the inaccessible villages. ‘CDMO and District Collector are also being reported of the Preventive and curative intervention undertaken by the Company’ said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limired, Lanjigarh.